A small consumer electronics maker in Melbourne, which specialises in undercutting the big brands, has become the first in Australia to announce plans to launch a mobile phone based on Google's Android platform.
Ruslan Kogan, 25 - who has been selling cut-priced Kogan-branded TV sets, GPS systems, DVD players and other gadgets over the internet from his base in Elsternwick for the past 2½ years - says he will sell the phone from December 15 for $199.
Google has made the Android software open-source, meaning virtually anyone can build phones based around the platform without obtaining permission from Google.
So far the Google phones have been launched only in the US, but Australians can already buy them on eBay for about $1000.
Motorola and Asus are reportedly working on their own models but neither has announced plans to launch in Australia.
Kogan said his Google phone would look similar to the iPhone in that it would be a touch-screen device with no built-in keyboard. He said it would include WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS and a trackball to aid in navigation.
"We've got a few designs that we can easily choose from. We know the components that's going to go into the phone," he said.
"It's a matter of loading the Android system on to the phone, configuring it, making sure it works very well and then the manufacturing of the few thousands phones that we need to launch it is just a matter of a day or two."
He said his private company, Kogan Technologies, turned over about $8 million last year and was on track to increase this to between $15 million and $20 million this year.
Kogan said his secret was a lack of overheads because he ordered his products directly from the factories in China, which built the gadgets exactly to his specifications.
The business is entirely online-based and Kogan has shunned retailers in favour of a direct-to-consumer model, enabling him to offer lower prices than other manufacturers.
The streamlined model has also allowed Kogan to bring products to market more quickly - he claims he was the first in Australia to sell digital photo frames about three years ago.
Kogan said he had 10 employees, including five who worked full-time, and all warehousing was outsourced. He hires university students to provide around-the-clock support from their computers at home.
Kogan, who recently expanded to New Zealand and is planning to move into Britain and the US, rejected suggestions that his low prices - $1449 for a 42-inch LCD TV with high definition tuner - meant his products contained cheap, low quality parts.
Reviewers have praised his products for their low prices but some have said that picture quality is not as good as in some of the bigger brands, which have teams of engineers tweaking and tuning the products for optimal performance.
But he counters that his products are not all about price and that quality is still a consideration. He tries to strike a balance between price and quality.
"Our 42-inch [LCD TV] range uses an LG panel, it's got a Samsung tuner board in it - whatever the best value-for-money solution in that size is, I'll have the factory make that up."
Before the start of the first round and the second round of the NBA playoffs, two of some resident NBA experts had their insights on the postseason. Now, with the conference finals about to get under way, we once again tap Scoop Jackson and Jemele Hill to answer our most pressing questions.
Question: Cleveland went 8-0 in the first two rounds. Denver is outscoring its opponents by an average of 16.0 points per game, the best mark ever through 10 playoff games. Which team is playing better right now?
Scoop Jackson: That's a helluva question. I guess the best way to tackle it is to ask, "If Denver and Cleveland were playing in the Finals right now, who would win?" I think Cleveland has looked better, but against worse teams. I think Denver, from that standpoint, has been more impressive. Even though Josh Howard was banged up, I'm not sure having Howard at 100 percent would have made much of a difference in the Denver-Dallas series. And here's my thing: LeBron and Co. have been making life very difficult for teams, especially on the defensive end, but could they shut the Nuggets down? Could they limit what the Nuggets do offensively? These Nuggets already beat one team by 58 points -- on the road! -- and put up 69 points on Dallas in a half, in a close-out game! The Cavs faced a decent offense in Atlanta, and they are going to face a good one (albeit an inconsistent one) in Orlando. But the speed with which the Nuggets have been scoring -- I don't know -- if I'm Cavs coach Mike Brown, how do I prepare my team for that? So I'll say this: Cleveland may be playing better ball right now, but I'm more impressed with Denver.
Jemele Hill: This is like asking a man to choose between Megan Fox and Mila Kunis. We're splitting hairs here. But ultimately, I'm a little more impressed with Denver, because the Nuggets' success and dominance is a complete surprise. In fact, I'll take this opportunity to apologize for thinking Chris Paul would dominate Chauncey Billups in the Denver-New Orleans series. But the bottom line is, Denver has beaten and dominated much better teams than Cleveland. The Cavs beat the Sisters of the Poor and No Game University. Dallas would have taken a game from Cleveland if those two had faced each other in a series, and the hobbled Hornets were still better than both the Hawks and the Pistons. We're just seeing a lot of things from Denver we didn't expect to see.
Question: The Lakers were 65-17 during the regular season, a record matched by a Magic Johnson-led Lakers team just once (65-17 in 1987). Does this Lakers team have a chance to go down as one of the best Lakers teams ever?
Scoop Jackson:Jemele, you going to do the Whitney Houston imitation, or should I? Hell to the naw! Top to bottom this may be one of the most "talented" Lakers squads, but labeling them one of the "best" would be wrong. "Best" to me coincides with dominance. And as good as these Lakers can be, they have not shown any character traits of a team that can dominate another team or a series. The great, great Lakers teams -- the ones we still talk about -- did more than just find a way to get it done. They made statements. What statements have these Lakers made? Even their leader called them "bipolar" at times. TNT's Kenny Smith made the strongest statement about this team the other day, when he said they "don't deserve to win a championship." I won't go that far, but I ain't mad at him for saying it out loud.
Jemele Hill:Let's not drink from the cup of crazy. Even if this Lakers team wins a championship, it won't be a definitive squad, like the one with Magic, Kareem, Worthy, Byron Scott and Michael Cooper. This Lakers team, although very good, isn't overloaded with Hall of Famers like some of those previous Lakers teams.
Question: Orlando can beat Cleveland because …
Scoop Jackson: … LeBron James could get hurt, and just maybe Jameer Nelson will have the most miraculous recovery in the history of modern medicine. Those things aside, I really can't see the Magic getting past the Cavs. The Cavs are too focused -- they are playing like they are on a mission, but not looking past any one game or any one opponent. The Magic, much like the Lakers, seem too inconsistent to really believe in or fall in love with. But here's the deal: If the Magic can find a way to get LeBron in foul trouble in one of the games in Cleveland that isn't Game 7 -- reducing his minutes and his intensity on the court, making him play passively because he doesn't want to pick up fouls -- while at the same time shooting over 50 percent from downtown in that same game … then and only then will they have a chance. I'm just not sure God is feeling the Magic like that, though.
Jemele Hill: … the Magic have figured out some of the Cavs' key weaknesses. I know the regular season is punted once the playoffs begin, but certain trends have become obvious. The Cavs are not an overwhelming offensive team. Their defense fuels a lot of their offense. LeBron James and Mo Williams will get theirs, of course. But Bron still is prone to overdribbling and settling for fadeaway jumpers. Zydrunas Ilgauskas can't do anything to stop Dwight Howard on defense, and the Cavaliers better hope Z can use his jumper on offense to pull Howard out of the paint. Rafer Alston averaged 18 points and 6 assists against the Cavaliers in the regular season. As ridiculous as this may sound -- especially with the way the Cavs have been shredding teams -- the Cavs are a much easier matchup for the Magic than the Celtics or Sixers. I'm not ready to nosedive off the limb and call the upset, but I fully expect this series to go the distance.
Question: Denver can beat L.A. because …
Scoop Jackson: … they might prove to be a more focused and driven team in the end. Plus, the Andrew Bynum mystery is still hanging over these playoffs. I'd like to know what's really goin' on. A lot of the Lakers' Finals hopes and championship dreams hinged upon his return -- the Lakers having him this time around, as opposed to not having him in the playoffs last year. But what's goin' on? Timing and conditioning are one thing, and not having any playoff experience and trying to get acclimated to the level of play is another -- but when your coach says it's something "mental" and benches you twice during the playoffs, something's not right. And whatever that problem/issue is could be the difference in the Lakers getting past the Nuggets, or getting in the way of their own dreams.
Jemele Hill: … the Nuggets believe they can win. I know that sounds corny, but the Nuggets are as confident as the Lakers are overconfident. The Nuggets just get better and better the deeper they go, and you can see their thirst for a championship developing rapidly. Beyond that, the Nuggets have some matchup advantages, and their toughness could bother the Lakers. Pau Gasol didn't respond well last year when Kendrick Perkins and the rest of the Celtics were up in his chest. What's he going to do with Nene, Kenyon Martin and Chris "Birdman" Andersen? Dahntay Jones has become a poor man's version of James Posey in these playoffs. He completely took Chris Paul out of the Denver-New Orleans series. He may not do that to Kobe Bryant, but he could possibly slow him down.
Question: Dwight Howard's postgame press conference sweaters. Discuss.
Scoop Jackson: Trying to be fly is an art form that even the best of us screw up sometimes. Now, establishing a theme is never good. The one thing you never want to do when it comes to flyness is become predictable. And Dwight has made the urban couture faux pas of turning his off-the-court wear into a uniform. After every game we know what he's going to rock, we just don't know what color. He needs to mix it up, and not wear the V-necks for every game! Some of them have been hot. The BBQ brown joint with the argyle pattern down the sleeves was nice. but he wore a black version of it about a week earlier. The dark cream one he had on with the salmon-colored shirt under it and the patterned necktie after Game 3? Smooth. But that white one, with the red and blue stripes? Goodness gracious, dude. And the canary-yellow one that set this whole conversation off? I was cool with that one, but the gray elbow patches messed it all up. Look, there's a fine line between style and fashion. The trick is to know the difference, and to know when to stop.
Jemele Hill: I'm just not sure why he's wearing the sweaters. It's almost 90 degrees in Orlando right now! Is this just some kind of mind game with the opponent? Is he sending the message that, despite 1,000 percent humidity, Superman has complete control of his body temperature at all times? Is he trying to one-up Aaron Brooks' valet parking blazer? It's positively baffling.
Nike, the sportswear giant, is to cut 1,750 jobs, equal to around 5 per cent of its global workforce, in an attempt to reduce costs.The job cuts represent the largest headcount reduction in the company’s history and are worse than the 4 per cent plan forecast by the group when it started its staff review in February.
Mark Parker, president and chief executive of NIke, said the decision had been both difficult and challenging as it affected colleagues, team mates and friends but that the company’s new structure would sharp its consumer focus and drive growth.
“We remain a growth company and we know these changes have created a stronger organisation that will enable us to invest in our most significant opportunities,” he said.
The group, which employees about 35,000 staff globally, said those axed, including about 500 jobs at Nike’s world headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, will receive a robust and enhanced severance and that it expects to complete the majority of the layoffs in the coming weeks.
The cuts come as the company, famous for its “swoosh” logo, halts production at factories in China and Vietnam, trims marketing spend and reorganises its global business to cope with the downturn as sales fall and margins come under pressure.
Earlier this month, Adidas, Nike's German rival, issued a profits warning, blaming the global recession for a shock 97 per cent plunge in its quarterly pre-tax profits to just €5 million.
Top 5 Point guards, shooting guards,small forwards, power forwards & centers
Top 5 Point Guards
1. Chris Paul
2. Deron Williams
3. Chauncey Billups
4. Gilbert Arenas
5. Steve Nash
Top 5 Shooting Guards
1. Kobe Bryant
2. Dwyane Wade
3. Tracy McGrady
4. Vince Carter
5. Manu Ginobli
Top 5 Small Forwards
1. LeBron James
2. Carmelo Anthony
3. Paul Pierce
4. Caron Butler
5. Andre Iguodala
Top 5 Power Forwards
1. Kevin Garnett
2. Chris Bosh
3. Dirk Nowitski
4. Carlos Boozer
5. Pau Gasol
Eminem recent Marvel comic cover on XXL June issue on stands May 5, two weeks before Eminem’s fifth solo album, “Relapse” releases on May 19, 2009…
This special collector’s edition of XXL will feature Eminem posing as Marvel Comics’ notorious vigilante The Punisher. The magazine also includes an exclusive collaboration between XXL, Shady and Marvel Comics: a special edition Punisher comic book entitled Eminem/Punisher: Kill You starring Eminem and created by Marvel Comics. Part 2 of the comic will be made available on www.marvel.com/eminem starting May 5, 2009.
Marvel archive
Game shows have typically not made very good video games over the years, mostly because the excitement of watching real people competing for real prizes has always been absent. That is, until now, as Xbox Live is set to launch the video game world’s first live game show based on the TV show “1 vs 100.”
At a media gathering Tuesday, Microsoft gave Canadian video game journalists the world’s first peek at this ambitious new venture, after introducing the show’s real-life host, Chris Cashman, via a video link from Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Wash.
In the game, Xbox players represented by their customized avatars play a trivia game that involves one lucky contestant, or “the One,” who is chosen at random from all players and pits his or her knowledge up against 100 other contestants, who are also known as “the Mob.” The goal of the One is to outlast all 100 members of the Mob by answering the increasingly difficult questions correctly without fail, with 10,000 Microsoft Points going to anyone who manages such a feat. The Microsoft Points are used to purchase Xbox Live Arcade Games, as well as TV shows and movies.
Those chosen to compete as a member of the Mob, meanwhile, are eligible to win a free Xbox Live Arcade game if they manage to keep themselves in the game long enough to be one of the final 40 Mob members. Players not selected to participate in the live game are still encouraged to play along as part of “the Crowd,” and depending on how well they answer the questions, they too can be eligible for real-life prizes. Microsoft officials don’t want to make any pronouncements on what the expected participation levels will be, but said that the game could easily handle up in the neighbourhood of 100,000 people playing at once.
The game is free to download for Xbox Live Gold members in Canada and the U.S., and each Friday and Saturday night for 13 weeks beginning May 8, there will be a live hosted game lasting two hours. There were hints that there could be special “themed” shows that would involve specialized questions and different virtual TV studio “sets,” such as a night revolving around the 2010 Olympics, for example.
It’s a brand new concept for the world of video games, let alone the worlds of television and game shows, and it’s the first venture in Microsoft’s “Primetime Channel,” which was first talked about at least year’s E3 Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles. No other titles have been announced, but if this debut game goes well, it’s easy to see how the Saturday nights of many Canadians will no longer be spent with Hockey Night in Canada, but in a virtual room full of avatars, looking to win prizes.
Faced with a 30 year sentence in Federal prison, Dontae can no longer hold on to the envisions of the outside life he left behind, including family. As hard as it may get, he is determined to do the time and not let the time do him. Offered a get out of jail free card, will he continue to favor his pride?
Can he remain strong enough throughout the rest of his bid before the mental stress and anguish begin taking its toll? Q’Tee vowed to love, honor, and cherish for better or worse until death do us part. With her husband, Dontae serving a lengthy sentence, she won’t stop at nothing to help free him. By any means necessary! After re-acquainting herself with an old fling, Marco, she becomes sidetracked momentarily by paths of lust, lies, and unbridled affection. Gradually, her world turns upside down. Surprisingly, Q’Tee soon will discover Marco is the ideal player that changes the game. Will Q’Tee’s love outweigh Dontae’s pride? FIND OUT WHO IS PLAYIN’ FOR KEEPS!
Having been raped, beaten, humiliated, mistreated, brainwashed, dogged out, and completely degraded… How much does a person have to take to say, Enough is Enough? Like so many other women alike, Shawn finds herself desperate for
love, simply replacing its real meaning for stupidity. Apparently, she is blinded by the repetitive dilemma that continues to plague her life. When will she wake up and take the blindfold off her eyes to see things clearer before it’s too late? “Pain Freak” illustrates the roller coaster ride women allow themselves to take for the pursuit of love and happiness. In return, all that appears to be good, eventually doesn’t turn out to be what it seems.
Chris Brown turned 20 years old on Tuesday, May 5 and he has decided to celebrate his birthday alongside his family in Virginia. A source reported that the R&B singer recently held a small birthday celebration and invited some of his friends and family in Virginia.
Last month, Chris Brown pleaded not guilty to two charges addressed to him after allegedly beating his Barbadian girlfriend Rihanna on February 8. At that time, his lawyer Mark Geragos told the judge that “more discovery was needed” in the case. The “Kiss, Kiss” singer was charged with felony battery and making criminal threats to the 21-year-old songstress just hours before their scheduled performance at 2009 Grammy Awards.
Most recently, Chris was reported spending quality time together with the “Umbrella” singer. “Chris was spending time with Rihanna,” a source previously told Radar Online of the couple. Soon after that, they reportedly rekindled their love just before Rihanna headed to her hometown in Barbados.
Eminem’s highly anticipated comeback disc Relapse leaked onto the net today (May 7), two weeks before its official release date.
Earlier today there was a full on onslaught of Eminem material that hit the net including snippets of tracks and a clip from his “Crack A Bottle” music video. On “Insane,” one track that leaked separately this afternoon the reclusive rapper graphically jokes about getting molested by his step dad.
“My step father said that I sucked in the bed,” he spit, “till one night he snuck in and said/ we’re going out back I want my dick sucked in the shed/cant we just play with Teddy Rucksbin instead/ after I fuck you in the butt, get some head/ bust a nut, get some rest/ the next day my mother said I don’t know wassup with this kid/ the bastard wont even eat nothing he’s fed/ he just hung himself in the bedroom, he’s dead/ Debbie don’t let that motherfucker get you upset/ let me go in there put a fucking cigarette to his neck / I bet you he’s faking it/ I bet you he just probably wants to see how upset she could get.” [Listen Here]
On Monday (May 4), a song planned for release on iTunes the following day came out early. “Old Times Sake,” featuring Dr. Dre, has the “dynamic duo” rhyming about smoking weed.
